A Democratic bill with 31 Democratic cosponsors · See all 31 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The WELLS Act aims to amend the Social Security Act and the Public Health Service Act to improve maternal health. It requires hospitals, critical access hospitals, and rural emergency hospitals participating in Medicare to develop specific discharge plans for pregnant individuals expected to be discharged before delivery. The bill also directs grant recipients to include racial bias training in rural maternal and obstetric care training programs. Additionally, it establishes a multi-center implementation science initiative to evaluate training models for healthcare professionals. Finally, the Secretary of Health and Human Services is tasked with creating a public maternal health dashboard to track various health outcome metrics.
Yes· 3 of 10
- Scored +8
Would women be better off under this?
The bill provides specific protections, discharge planning, and data tracking to improve maternal health outcomes.
- Scored +7
Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated?
The bill requires racial bias training as part of rural maternal and obstetric care training programs.
- Scored +6
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
The bill mandates structured discharge planning for pregnant individuals to ensure continuity of care and access to backup facilities.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Improved Discharge Planning for Pregnant Individuals: Under Section 2, hospitals must develop and implement discharge plans for pregnant individuals who are experiencing signs of labor but are expected to be discharged prior to delivery. This includes providing a clinical justification, assessing travel distance/time, verifying reliable transportation, and identifying a back-up hospital (Section 2, subsection (l)(1) and (2)).
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Enhanced Communication: The bill requires that discharge plans be discussed with the individual or their representative, and that they confirm understanding of the plan in their primary language (Section 2, subsection (l)(1)(C) and (2)(F)).
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Racial Bias Training: Grant recipients for rural maternal and obstetric care training must use funds to provide racial bias training as part of their programs (Section 3, subsection (a)(1)(B)).
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Increased Transparency and Data Access: The Secretary is required to make public reports on grant recipients and outcomes (Section 3, subsection (a)(3)(B)), and to develop a public maternal health dashboard containing data on maternal mortality, severe morbidity, and discharge outcomes (Section 5).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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New Requirements for Participating Hospitals: Starting January 1, 2027, hospitals, critical access hospitals, and rural emergency hospitals participating in Medicare must comply with new discharge plan requirements to remain eligible for participation (Section 2, subsection (l)(1)).
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Mandatory Performance Milestones for Grant Recipients: Grant recipients must meet minimum performance milestones, including specific targets regarding the percentage of staff trained or receiving refresher training, to remain eligible for future funding (Section 3, subsection (d)(2)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would women be better off under this? — The bill provides specific protections, discharge planning, and data tracking to improve maternal health outcomes. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — The bill addresses racial disparities through mandatory racial bias training in maternal care. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill specifically targets improvements in rural maternal and obstetric care training. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill includes protections for transportation and discharge planning that benefit those with limited resources.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill mandates structured discharge planning for pregnant individuals to ensure continuity of care and access to backup facilities. Does this put more money into medical research? — The bill establishes a multi-center implementation science initiative to evaluate training models for maternal health. Does this put more money into Medicare, the health coverage for people over 65? — The bill modifies Medicare participation requirements for hospitals rather than increasing direct funding levels.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill requires racial bias training as part of rural maternal and obstetric care training programs.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill mandates the creation of a public maternal health dashboard and annual reports to Congress.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — The bill funds an implementation science initiative to evaluate maternal health training models.
- 5/12/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/30/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/29/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 4/28/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/21/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/20/2026
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- 4/16/2026
- 5 Cosponsors added.
- 4/14/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/19/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/5/2026
- Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 15 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Yassamin AnsariDemocrat · Arizona
Joyce BeattyDemocrat · Ohio
Shontel BrownDemocrat · Ohio
Yvette ClarkeDemocrat · New York
Troy CarterDemocrat · Louisiana
Sheila Cherfilus-McCormickDemocrat · Florida
Herbert ConawayDemocrat · New Jersey
Danny DavisDemocrat · Illinois
Cleo FieldsDemocrat · Louisiana
Valerie FousheeDemocrat · North Carolina
Jahana HayesDemocrat · Connecticut
Glenn IveyDemocrat · Maryland
Pramila JayapalDemocrat · Washington
Ro KhannaDemocrat · California
Teresa Leger FernandezDemocrat · New Mexico
Kweisi MfumeDemocrat · Maryland
Gwen MooreDemocrat · Wisconsin
Lucy McBathDemocrat · Georgia
LaMonica McIverDemocrat · New Jersey
Christian MenefeeDemocrat · Texas
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Mike QuigleyDemocrat · Illinois
Terri SewellDemocrat · Alabama
Lateefah SimonDemocrat · California
Paul TonkoDemocrat · New York
Rashida TlaibDemocrat · Michigan
Jill TokudaDemocrat · Hawaii
Lauren UnderwoodDemocrat · Illinois
Nikema WilliamsDemocrat · Georgia
Frederica WilsonDemocrat · Florida
Bonnie Watson ColemanDemocrat · New Jersey